Maharashtra exit poll highlights: Poll predict clean sweep for Mahayuti in BMC polls, Uddhav-Raj alliance distant second

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Voting concluded for the high-stakes BMC polls in Mumbai, along with elections to 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra, an Election Commission official said.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar demanded strict action against persons attempting to wipe off ink from their fingers after exercising their franchise claiming they were trying to facilitate bogus voting and undermining the sanctity of the electoral process.

“People who are wiping off ink are attempting bogus voting. A criminal case must be registered against them and a thorough probe should be conducted. Strict action is necessary to protect the sanctity of elections and to ascertain the real motive behind creating confusion over the ink,” Shelar said. Shelar told reporters it remains to be seen if any of those making public accusations had lodged or would lodge any formal complaint with the EC.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Uddhav Thackeray claimed irregularities in the Maharashtra civic polls, terming it an attempt to “murder” democracy, and urged voters to dislodge the “brutal, fraud, corrupt and dictatorial regime” of the BJP.

Addressing a news conference, Uddhav demanded the suspension of State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare, and alleged collusion between the poll body and the government.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: The voter turnout was recorded at 41.08% in Mumbai till 3:30 pm. Several Bollywood celebrities, including Salman Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Saumya Tandon and others were seen exercising their franchise in the ongoing BMC polls.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Actor Salman Khan also exercised his franchise in the ongoing BMC polls, with the Bollywood superstar seen casting his vote in the Bandra area.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: 'Dhurandhar' fame actor Saumya Tandon on Thursday faced trouble while trying to cast her vote during the Maharashtra municipal elections. Despite checking her details online, she had to visit more than one polling booth as her name was missing from the voter list at two places.

“I actually went out to vote, and I checked online. There was a booth at the bottom of my house where people were sitting to help me, to tell me about the booth or the place. They told me that I had to come to this location. I took a screenshot online, but when I came here, they are now sending me to some other location because they are saying that your location is showing somewhere else online,” she said.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Actor Janhvi Kapoor casts her vote at the Gandhi Shikshan Bhavan polling station in Mumbai.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: The voter turnout in 29 corporations across Maharashtra was recorded at 29.22% till 1.30 pm.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray raised allegations of irregularities in the Maharashtra local body elections, accusing the government of being obsessed with power and calling it "shameless". Uddhav claimed that the Election Commission had deployed old voting machines and introduced a new system called "PADU". The Printing Auxiliary Display Unit (PADU) serves as a backup in case of an emergency or a technical error when connecting the voting units to the control unit.

"On top of that, they have installed old machines, and yesterday Raj and Sanjay were together; they have brought a new thing called 'PADU'. They are so obsessed with grabbing power that I have never seen such a shameless government," Uddhav Thackeray said, according to ANI.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare on Thursday said that an inquiry has been ordered after complaints alleging that the indelible ink applied to voters’ fingers was being wiped off. He clarified that claims about acetone or nail polish being able to remove the indelible ink are false, and warned that anyone attempting to remove the ink or spread confusion among voters would face legal action.

“The indelible ink used in the markers applied to voters’ fingers has been in use since 2011. The markers are manufactured by the same company and use the same ink composition. The ink takes 10 to 12 seconds to dry after application, and once it dries, it cannot be wiped off. Circulating videos on social media regarding the ink to create confusion among voters is unacceptable and may invite legal action,” Waghmare told reporters.

Maharashtra elections LIVE: Actor Rajat Kapoor on Thursday cast his vote for the BMC elections and urged people to ensure participation in the local body polls. After casting his vote, Kapoor showed his inked finger and said, “If you haven’t voted yet, please come and vote. A few hours are left. It is very important that you vote.”

Maharashtra elections LIVE: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) poll has recorded a voter turnout of 29.96 per cent till 1.30 pm on Thursday.

Voter turnout for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) till 1:30 pm stands at 29.96%.

Aarif Mohammed from Mumbra was shocked to know that a vote has been cast in his name already. He said he had not exercised his voting rights because he was denied the right to vote; he protested, and voting was halted for 15-20 minutes at the booth.

As there is no CCTV inside the booth, footage of the bogus voters is not available while casting the vote.

He has all the necessary proof of his identity, including his passport, Aadhaar card, and voter ID, with him.

A PRO at the booth told HT that due to a similarity in names, this mistake must have occurred, as the bogus voters also provided an Aadhaar card with a similar name. When asked how the vote ID was not match? He said his senior will reply who is not present at the booth

Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor cast her vote for the BMC elections at Gandhi Shikshan Bhavan in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ravindra Chavan on Thursday exuded confidence that the ruling Mahayuti would secure victory in the 29 local bodies across the state.

Speaking to the media after casting his vote here, he emphasised the BJP and Shiv Sena's "developmental agenda".

"Under the leadership of PM Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, we have run an election campaign on a development agenda, and we fully believe that 29 municipalities will elect a mayor from Mahayuti," Chavan told reporters.

Chavan cast his vote at Joshi School polling booth for the local body elections.
(ANI)

Former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, along with his family, including MP Praniti Shinde, cast their vote in Solapur for the Maharashtra local body elections on Thursday.

After casting her vote, Congress MP Praniti Shinde accused the BJP of dirty politics, stating that the party has "arrogance of having power for the first time."

Shedding light on Congress's developmental approach, accusing BJP of using foul tactics to garner votes in the local body elections.

"When we vote in the Solapur Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra local body elections, our vote should be for development. Congress is fighting for this, and the way the BJP is doing politics by murdering someone or by distributing money... maybe they have the arrogance of having power for the first time, which is why they are misusing it..," she told the media.
(ANI)

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray has stated that the state election commissioner, Dinesh Waghmare, should be suspended as he is openly siding with the ruling alliance.

He stated that an audit needs to be conducted of the activities of the state election commissioner staff and representatives of all political parties.

Uddhav Thackeray was addressing a press conference at Sena Bhavan on Thursday.

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray said that there are many complaints of ink being erased. ``How can the ink be erased?’’ he asked.

``Many things are exposed on social media and TV channels. Why are they implementing all methods,’’ said Thackeray.

The Maharashtra State Election Commission issued a statement stating that attempting to erase the ink applied to a voter’s finger and thereby creating confusion among voters is a malpractice.

“If it is found that a person has erased the ink from their finger and has come to vote again, appropriate legal action will be taken against them. Even if someone attempts to commit malpractice by erasing the ink on the finger, the concerned voter cannot vote again. Necessary safeguards in this regard have already been put in place,” the statement added.

“Once a voter has cast their vote, a record of it is maintained. Therefore, merely erasing the ink does not enable a voter who has committed such malpractice to vote again. Instructions to remain vigilant in this matter have once again been issued to all concerned authorities,” it added.

Following allegations by citizens regarding ink quality and concerns about vote duplication, a brawl broke out in Ghatkopar, halting voting in one booth and disrupting it in the rest. While the ink on a few citizens disappeared after using regular household items, in others, it still persisted.

Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde has cast his vote at a polling station in Thane for the Maharashtra local body polls.

A Mumbaikar who came to cast his vote in the BMC election was unable to do so due to a data mismatch.

says, "The number we found on the internet does not match here. This is organisational failure... I have to go without casting my vote," he told ANI.

Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe gave the details of security arrangements for polling in Navi Mumbai.
"In Navi Mumbai, both the corporations, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and Panvel Municipal Corporation, have deployed large numbers of police. Armed battalions have also come from outside. They have also been deployed in large numbers... We have also conducted flag marches in many sensitive areas to build confidence among the people. We are also conducting an investigation. In large numbers, not only at the booths but also within 100 metres of them and in other important, sensitive areas, police are deployed... We appeal to all our citizens, if you are a registered voter, then please save your right to vote in a free environment," he told ANI.

Magan Lal Doshi, a 100-year-old voter, arrived at Villa Theresa High School to cast his vote in the BMC polls.

He told PTI, "Voting is our birthright. Regardless of age, you must vote. I have been voting all along. I am more than 100 years old, yet I am voting."

Actor Aamir Khan shows his inked finger after casting his vote in the BMC elections in Mumbai.